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Suggest Remedy For Twitching Legs
Posted on
Tue, 21 Oct 2014
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 21 Oct 2014
Answered on
Mon, 17 Nov 2014
Last reviewed on
Question : I have trouble with my legs twitching when I'm sitting and when I lie down to go to sleep. Sometimes it wakes me . It is so aggravating.
Would like to have a description of what idiopathic and fasciculation means. Have looked in my dictionaries and my Medical Health Guide and could not find the words.
Please inform me. Thank You XXXXXXX
Would like to have a description of what idiopathic and fasciculation means. Have looked in my dictionaries and my Medical Health Guide and could not find the words.
Please inform me. Thank You XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Aggravated twitching should be viewed seriously
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Idiopathic means " unknown cause "
2. Fasciculation means "visible or palpable twitch within a muscle due to spontaneous discharge of a motor unit"
3. Twitching is common and rarely discomforting or even disturbing. Aggravation of twitching commonly indicates neuropathic disease (lower motor neuron disease), specifically anterior horn cell diseases. During this time fasciculations can be felt clinically and also recorded by electromyography.
4. If you have any other symptoms related to muscles or nerves, it needs to viewed seriously. Any associated memory loss, swallowing symptoms etc.
5. Other rare cause include hyperthyroidism.
6. More common causes are electrolyte abnormalities, however they do not cause severe disturbing fasciculation.
You can try the following:
1. Stretching the muscle group, before going to sleep.
2. Improving your diet with additional calcium, magnesium and potassium.
3. Good hydration.
4. Moderate exercises.
However, if it continues to progress, you need to
1. evaluate for serum calcium, magnesium and potassium
2. Thyroid profile
3. Electromyography - nerve conduction studies.
Meet a neurologist for these studies and further evaluation.
If excessive, anti-epileptics and beta blockers are commonly prescribed (Its usually when cause is not identified (Benign fasciculation syndrome). Treatment of cause is essential). It has helped in few cases. You will require prescription from your doctor for this.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Aggravated twitching should be viewed seriously
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Idiopathic means " unknown cause "
2. Fasciculation means "visible or palpable twitch within a muscle due to spontaneous discharge of a motor unit"
3. Twitching is common and rarely discomforting or even disturbing. Aggravation of twitching commonly indicates neuropathic disease (lower motor neuron disease), specifically anterior horn cell diseases. During this time fasciculations can be felt clinically and also recorded by electromyography.
4. If you have any other symptoms related to muscles or nerves, it needs to viewed seriously. Any associated memory loss, swallowing symptoms etc.
5. Other rare cause include hyperthyroidism.
6. More common causes are electrolyte abnormalities, however they do not cause severe disturbing fasciculation.
You can try the following:
1. Stretching the muscle group, before going to sleep.
2. Improving your diet with additional calcium, magnesium and potassium.
3. Good hydration.
4. Moderate exercises.
However, if it continues to progress, you need to
1. evaluate for serum calcium, magnesium and potassium
2. Thyroid profile
3. Electromyography - nerve conduction studies.
Meet a neurologist for these studies and further evaluation.
If excessive, anti-epileptics and beta blockers are commonly prescribed (Its usually when cause is not identified (Benign fasciculation syndrome). Treatment of cause is essential). It has helped in few cases. You will require prescription from your doctor for this.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, happy to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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